Kansas committee changes records bill

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A Kansas Senate committee has made major changes to a measure that sought to make it easier for the public to get documents used to justify police searches and arrests.

As originally written, the bill would have presumed that affidavits to obtain search and arrest warrants are open record after the warrants are executed. Lawyers would have to prove such documents should be sealed or redacted. Kansas is one of the few states that seal probable-cause affidavits.

But in the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Greg Smith on Thursday came up with amendments that would separate out the arrest warrant affidavits and continue to seal them as in current law.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Rep. John Rubin, who sponsored the original bill, said Thursday he’ll work to debate the changes.